Feed control apparatus for a sewing machine



Feb. 11, 1969 SUSUMU HANYU ETAL 3,426,712

FEED CONTROL APPARATUS FOR A SEWING MACHINE Sheet Filed May 25. 1966 Feb. 11, 1969 I 'SUSUMU HANYU ETAL. 3,426,712

FEED CONTROL APPARATUS FOR A SEWING MACHINE Sheet 2 of 4 Filed May 25, 1966 INVENTORS $141M in IL hp nlL LL Feb. 11, 1969 SUSU-MU HANYU ET'AL I 3,426,712

FEED CONTROL APPARATUS FOR A SEWING MACHINE Filed May 25, 1966 Sheet 3 0f 4 Feb. 11, 1969 susu u HANYU ET AL. 3,426,712

FEED CONTROL APPARATUS FOR A SEWING MACHINE mi n May 25, 1966 Sheet 4 of 4 INVENTORS 6116]" 1' f lm. BY /VC 1 r: 41 97% United States Patent 40/ 30,385 U.S. Cl. 112-210 Int. Cl. D05b 27/02 14 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A knob is manually turned to a plurality of first control positions in which the feeding means of a sewing machine feed forward at different speeds, and is axially depressed from each first control position to a second control position in which rearward feeding at corresponding speeds takes place. The knob can also be turned to a third control position in which no feeding takes place.

The present invention relates to a feed control apparatus for a sewing machine, and more particularly to apparatus having a single manually operable knob for setting the fabric feeding means of the sewing machine to forward and backward feeding, and for placing the same in an inoperative position in which the fabric is not fed, as required by embroidery operations.

Known sewing machines are provided with feeding means for the fabric in the form of a feeding dog which can be set to move the fabric forward during normal sewing operations and rearward which is useful for certain sewing operations, such as the making of button holes. Furthermore, the feeding dog can be lowered to an inoperative position in which it does not project above the top surface of the base plate of the sewingmachine, so that the fabric can be freely moved in all directions when embroidery stitches are made. In accordance with the prior art, several control knobs, placed at different parts of the sewing machine, are provided for controlling the feeding means. Separate manual controls are not only 1nconvenient, but also require complicated linkages acting on the feeding means.

It is one object of the invention to overcome the disadvantages of known feed control apparatus for sewing machines, and to provide a single manual control for setting the feeding means to all required operations and conditions.

Another object of the invention is to provide a single manually operable means for setting a sewing machine to forward feeding, rearward feeding, and no feeding of a fabric.

Another object of the invention is to provide a manually operable knob, which is turned for setting the feeding means to one operational condition, and moved in axial direction for setting the feeding means to another operational condition.

Another object of the invention is to set the feeding means of the sewing machine to one operational conditional condition by turning a manually operable knob from an initial position in one direction, to set the feeding means to a second operational condition by pushing the knob in axial direction, and for setting the feeding means to an inoperative condition by turning the knob in the opposite direction.

Another object of the invention is to provide a simple and inexpensive mechanism between a manually operable means and the feeding means of a sewing machine permitting the setting of the feeding means to different operational conditions from a single control knob.

With these objects in view, one embodiment of the invention comprises feeding means having an inoperative position, and an operative position for feeding a fabric forward or rearward, feed direction control means having first and second adjusted positions for causing forward and rearward feeding of the fabric; and manually operable means movable from an initial position to first, second and third control positions.

In accordance with the invention, the manually operable means, preferably a control knob mounted for turning and axial movement, is operatively connected with the feed direction control means for moving the same to the first and second adjusted positions when moved to the first and second control positions respectively. The manually operated means is also operatively connected with the feeding means for moving the same to the inoperative position when the manually operable means is moved to the third control position.

In the preferred embodiment of the invention, the feed direction control means include a nonrotatable threaded means which is nonrotatably guided in axial direction by stationary guide means. A manually operable knob is mounted on a casing of the sewing machine for turning movement in one direction of rotation from an initial position to at least one first control position, and for axial and turning movement in the same direction of rotation to at least one second control position.

The manually operable knob has rotatable threaded means in threaded engagement with the nonrotatable threaded means so that upon turning of the manually operable means to the first control position in one direction of rotation, the feed direction control means is moved to the first adjusted position by the nonrotatable threaded means displaced in one axial direction.

The manually operable means include a cam track concentric with the axis of rotation having a greater pitch, preferably twice as great, than the first and second threaded means and cooperating with a stationary stop means so that the manually operable means turned in the same direction of rotation as before to the first control position, and axially moved opposite to the above-mentioned axial direction to the second control position, effects rearward feeding at the same speed as the forward speed obtained in the first control position of the manually operated means since the axial movement in the opposite axial direction of the first threaded means places the feed direction control means in the second adjusted position so that the fabric may be fed in the reverse direction.

The manually operated means include an engaging portion cooperating with linkage means operatively connected with the feeding means. When the manually operable knob is turned, in the opposite direction of rotation than before, to the third control position, the linkage means shift the feeding means to the inoperative position so that embroidery operations can be carried out.

The novel features which are considered as characteristic for the invention are set forth in particular in the appended claims. The invention itself, however, both as to its construction and its method of operation, together with additional objects and advantages thereof, will be best understood from the following description of specific embodiments when read in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a front view, partially in section, illustrating a sewing machine provided with the apparatus of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a side elevation of the sewing machine;

FIG. 3 is a perspective exploded view illustrating a preferred embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 4 is a front view of a manually operable knob with its dial;

FIG. 5 and FIG. 6 are rear views, partially in section, illustrating two operational positions of the apparatus;

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary side elevation illustrating a detail of the apparatus; and

FIG. 8 is a developed view of a cam forming part of the manually operable means used in the illustrated embodiment.

Referring now to the drawings, the casing 51 of a sewing machine is mounted on a horizontal base plate and provided with a reciprocating needle 52 which reciprocates in vertical direction to make stitches in a fabric transported forward or rearward by feeding dog means 44 shown in FIG. 2. The fabric feeding means include a plate mounting the feed dog and a fork-shaped part 44a engaged by a roller 41 on an angular lever 33 which is mounted on the machine frame for turning movement about a shaft 35 so that by turning of angular lever 33, the feed dog means 44 can be retracted to an inoperative position located below the level of the top face of base plate 50 so that the fabric under the needle and presser foot is not transported, as required for embroidery operations. In the normal position of angular lever 33, the feed dog means 44 is actuated to move the fabric forward or rearward, as in most standard sewing machines.

A support plate 9 having a circular dial portion 9a is mounted over a corresponding cutout in the casing wall of a sewing machine. Cover plate 9 has a central opening 10 bounded on the outside of cover plate 9 by a circular inner flange 21. Another circular flange 19 projects inwardly from support plate 9 and has an inner cylindrical surface provided with circumferentially spaced axially extending parallel projections and recesses 22. Flange 19 is formed in one piece with an inner projection 20 provided with a pair of threaded holes 20a to which a portion 48 of a guide member 4 is secured by screws 28 as will be apparent from FIG. 3. Portion 48 has a threaded bore 4a into which a worm screw 29 is threaded. The end 29" of screw 29 is located in the region of the opening 10, and its position can be adjusted whereupon the axial position of screw 29 is fixed by a nut 29'.

The manually operable means by which the feeding of the fabric is controlled, includes a knob 5 having a flange 23, a tubular cam 46 having a cam track 6 with a projection E, a centrally located threaded nut means 45 with an inner thread 7, and a cap 8.

In the assembled condition of the apparatus, knob 5 is inserted into opening 10 until the front face of flange 23 slidingly abuts the rear face of flange 21. Cap 8 is placed on the front end of knob 5. Flange 23 has two diametrically arranged blind bores 47 into which springs 25 and pins 24 are inserted. Pins 24 are located in diametrically opposite recesses 22 so that they snap into successive recesses 22 when knob 5 is turned, and guide knob 5 for axial movement along the respective pair of diametrically opposite recesses 22 when knob 5 is pushed inwardly.

The tubular cam 46 is fixedly secured to knob 5 with flange 23, and has, as seen in the developed view of FIG. 8, an inclined helical cam track portion 6 extending between the points A and B, a portion of constant height extending between the points B, C and D, and a high projecting portion E.

In the initial position of knob 5, indicated by the indicia on dial 9a and by an index mark 42 on cap 8, the end 29" of the stationary screw 29 engages the cam track in the region of the point B.

Nut means 45 is also secured to knob within cam 46 and has an inner thread concentric with the axis of rotation of knob 5 and cam 46. The inner thread 7 normally engages an outer thread of a threaded means 2 which has a guide portion 26 with parallel lateral faces, and a projecting pin 3.

Guide portion 26 is guided for axial movement in a guideway 27 in stationary guide means 4 which has an outline corresponding to the cross-section of guide portion 26.

A feed direction control means 1 is mounted for angular movement about a pivot 32 and is biased in one direction by spring 31. Adjusting rod 3 cooperates with portion 30 of feed direction control means 1 so that during movement of means 2, 3, 26 in axial direction to the right as viewed in FIG. 3 due to turning of knob 5 out of the 0 position to control positions 1, 2, 3, 4, feeding means 44 is adjusted to feed the fabric at different forward speeds, while during movement of means 2, 3, 26 to the left as viewed in FIG. 3, the feed direction control means 1 is adjusted to set feeding means 44 to rearward feeding of the fabric.

The inner thread 7 and the outer thread 2 are multiple threads having a certain pitch causing movement of the threaded means 2, 3, 26 in axial direction to the right for predetermined distances when knob 5 is turned from the initial position indicated by indicia 0 in FIG. 1 in clockwise direction to the four control positions indicated by indicia 1, 2, 3, 4 on the dial 9a. When the manually operable means 5, 6, 7 are turned clockwise to these first control positions, threaded means 2, 3, 26 moves in one axial direction to the right as viewed in FIG. 3 and assumes together with the other feed direction control means 1, 30, 31, 32, four first adjusted positions in which the fabric is moved at different speeds in forward direction. When knob 5 is turned in the opposite direction back to its initial position, threaded means 2, 3, 26 is moved in the opposite axial direction by the turning threaded means 45, 7 which is prevented from axial movement by flanges 23, 21. In this manner, the initial position of the feed direction control means is restored.

In order to set the feed direction control means 1, 2, 3, 26, 30, 31, 32 to second adjusted positions in which the fabric is fed rearwardly at different speeds, threaded means 2, 26, 3 must be moved to the left as viewed in FIG. 3 out of its normal position to second adjusted positions.

This is accomplished by moving knob 5 in axial direction toward the left as viewed in FIG. 3. If the end 29" of the stop screw 29 engages cam track portion B, C, D the same must be turned until stop screw 29 is located opposite the higher end of the inclined cam track portion 6 in the region of point B, which corresponds to the initial 0 position of knob 5, or further in clockwise direction to one of the positions indicated by the indicia 1, 2, 3, 4 on dial 9a. Either as soon as screw stop 29 is located opposite cam track portion 6, or after cam 46, 6 has been turned with knob 5 to a selected control position, knob 5 can be pushed inwardly in axial direction a distance determined by stop screw 29 and by the angular position of cam 46, 6.

If knob 5 is turned to one of the first control positions and is moved in axial direction against the action of spring 31, it is stopped in a second control position by stop screw 29 engaging the respective portion of cam track '6 after moving an axial distance depending on the axial height of the point of cam track 6 aligned with stop screw 29 in the respective angular control position of knob 5 with cam 46. The manually operated means 5, 46, 6, 45, 7 are axially displaced a predetermined distance to the left as viewed in FIG. 3, and since threaded means 2, 3, 26 moves with threaded means 45, 7 in axial direction, it is also advanced to the left the same distance as knob 5. However, since threaded means 45 turns with knob 5, threaded means 2, 3, 26 was retracted toward the right as viewed in FIG. 3 in accordance with the angular first control position of knob 5 since it cannot turn with threaded means 45 due to guideway 27 in guide means 4.

Assuming that the pitch of cam track 6 is twice the pitch of the threads 2 and 7, threaded means 2, 3, 26 is retracted into threaded means 45, 7 half the distance it is axially advanced together with threaded means 45, earn 6, and knob 5 until stopped by stop screw 29. The axial movement of the pushed-in threaded means 2, 26, 3 is twice as long and opposite to the axial movement obtained by the threaded engagement between threads 2, 7 when knob 5 is only turned to a first control position, but not pushed in to the second control position. Consequently, the feed direction control means assume a position in which the fabric is rearwardly fed. The rearward feeding speed in each second control position is the same as the forward feeding speed obtained in the respective first control position in which knob 5 was pushed in. Evidently, the pitch of cam track 6 need not be twice the pitch of the threads 2, 7, but must be greater to advance the threaded means 2, 3, 26 toward the left for setting the apparatus to backward feeding.

A double armed lever 11 has a hole 14 and is mounted on a pivot screw 15 which is screwed into a threaded hole of a boss 16 on the inside of support plate 9. A spring 17 is wound about pivot screw 15 and has two ends 17' and 17" respectively resiliently abutting lever 11 and a stop 18 on the inside of support plate 9, as best seen in FIGS. 5 and 6. Spring 17 urges lever 11 to turn in counterclockwise direction as viewed in the drawing to a position in which the end portion 12 abuts a shoulder formed on portion E of cam 46, as best seen in FIG. 5. When knob 5 is turned in the opposite direction than before from the initial position to a third control position indicated by D on the dial, portion E is angularly displaced and acts on engaging portion 12 to turn lever 11 in clockwise directions as viewed in FIGS. 5 and 6 to the position shown in FIG. 6.

As shown in FIGS. 1, 5 and 6, the lower end of lever 11 is connected by a link 37 to a locking and resetting member 36 which, in the normal initial position of the apparatus shown in FIG. 5, is located in aligned bores 39 and 40 of a pair of angular levers 34, 33 which are mounted on a shaft 35 for angular movement. A spring 38 connects angular lever 33 with angular lever 34 and urges angular lever 33 to the position shown in FIG. 7 in which the bore 40 is not aligned with bore 39. This position is only possible when locking and resetting member 36 is in the retracted position shown in FIG. 6 due to the angular displacement of lever 11 by portion E of cam 46. In the normal initial position of the apparatus locking and resetting member 36 is located in bore 40 and holds angular lever 33 in a position in which a roller 41 on lever 33 engaging fork-shaped portion 44a, holds feeding dog means 44 in an operative position for forward or rearward f eding.

When knob 5 is turned in counterclockwise direction as viewed in FIG. 1, and in clockwise direction as viewed in FIGS. 5 and 6, which are rear views, to the third control position indicated by indicia D, portion E of cam 46 displaces portion 12 of lever 11 and turns the same from the position of FIG. 5' to the position of FIG. 6 so that the locking and resetting member 36 is partly 'withdrawn from bore 40 in angular lever 33 permitting spring 38 to shift lever 33 to a position in which its roller 41 acts on fork-shaped portion 44a to shift feeding dog means 44 to a lower inoperative position in which no feeding of a fabric located under the presser foot and needle 52 can take place.

When knob 5 is turned back in clockwise direction to the initial position indicated by the indicia 0, spring 17 returns lever 11 to its initial position shown in FIG. 5, and the conical portion 36 of resetting member 36 acts on the edge of bore 40 to turn shifting lever 33 back to its normal position in which the feeding dog 44 is raised to permit forward and rearward feeding when knob 5 is turned in clockwise direction to obtain forward feeding, or pushed in when turned in clockwise direction to obtain rearward feeding.

It will be understood that each of the elements described above, or two or more together, may also find a useful application in other types of feed control devices for sewing machines differing from the types described above.

While the invention has been illustrated and described as embodied in a single manually operable means for setting the feeding means of a sewing machine to forward feeding, backward feeding, and to an inoperative position in which the fabric is not fed, it is not intended to be limited to the details shown, since various modifications and structural changes may be made without departing in any way from the spirit of the present invention.

Without further analysis, the foregoing will so fully reveal the gist of the present invention that others can by applying current knowledge readily adapt it for various applications without omitting features that, from the standpoint of prior art, fairly constitute essential characteristics of the generic or specific aspects of this invention and, therefore, such adaptations should and are intended to be comprehended within the meaning and range of equivalence of the following claims.

What is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

1. Feed control apparatus for a sewing machine, comprising, in combination, feeding means having an inoperative position, and an operative position for feeding a fabric forward or rearward; feed direction control means operatively connected with said feeding means and having first and second adjusted positions for causing forward and rearward feeding of the fabric; and manually operable means movable from an initial position to first, second and third control positions, said manually operable means being operatively connected with said feed direction control means for moving the same to said first and second adjusted positions when moved to said first and second control positions, respectively, and including a shifting member for moving said feeding means between said inoperative and operative positions, and biassing means for biassing said shifting member to move said feeding means to said inoperative position; and locking means operatively connected with said manually operable means for holding said shifting member against the action of said biassing means in said initial position and in said first and second control positions of said manually operable means, and releasing said shifting member for moving said feeding means to said inoperative position when said manually operable means is moved to said third control position.

2. A feed control apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said shifting member has a bore; and wherein said locking means includes a resetting member having a conical portion for entering said bore to move said shifting member to said normal position.

3. Feed control apparatus according to claim 2 and including a spring biassed linkage means connected with said resetting member and having an engaging portion; and wherein said manually operable means include a por tion holding in said initial position of said manually operable means, said engaging portion and said linkage means in a position in which said resetting member is located in said bore for holding said shifting member in its normal position in which said feeding means is operative, while upon turning movement of said manually operable means to said third control position, said resetting member is retracted from said bore to permit said shifting member to move said feeding means to said inoperative position.

4. Feed control apparatus for a sewing machine, comprising, in combination, feeding means having an inoperative position, and an operative position for feeding a fabric forward or rearward; feed direction control means operatively connected with said feeding means and having first and second adjusted positions for causing forward and rearward feeding of the fabric; and manually operable means movable from an initial position to first, second and third control positions, said manually operable means being operatively connected with said feed direction control means for moving the same to said first and second adjusted positions when moved to said first and second control positions, respectively, said manually operable means being turnable in one direction of rotation from said initial position to said first control position, being turnable in the same direction and movable in axial direction to said second control position and being turnable in an opposite direction of rotation from said initial position to said third control position.

5. Feed control apparatus according t claim 4 wherein said manually operable means include a knob mounted for turning and axial movement, a cam secured to said knob and having a cam track, first threaded means fixedly secured to said knob; and wherein said feed direction control means include second nonrotative, axially movable threaded means in threaded engagement with said threaded means; and wherein the rise of said cam track is greater than the helical pitch of said threaded means; and including a stationary stop cooperating with said cam track so that upon turning and axial movement of said knob and cam to said second control position, said first threaded means advances said second threaded means a greater distance due to axial movement than said other threaded means is retracted by said first mentioned threaded means due to the turning movement of the same with said knob.

6. Feed control apparatus according to claim 5 wherein said cam has a projecting portion; and including shifting means for shifting said feeding means between said inoperative and operative positions; a locking and resetting member for controlling the position of said shifting means; and a linkage connecting said portion of said cam with said member so that said shifting means moves said feeding means to said inoperative position when said knob and cam are turned to said third control position.

7. Feed control apparatus for a sewing machine, comprising, in combination, feeding means having an inoperative position, and an operative position for feeding a fabric forward or rearward; feed direction control means including first threaded means and being operatively connected with said feeding means and having first and second adjusted positions for setting said feeding means to feed the fabric forward and rearward, respectively, stationary guide means for nonrotatably guiding said first threaded means for axial movement; support means including a stationary stop means; manually operable means mounted on said support means for turning movement about an axis in one direction of rotation from an initial position to a first control position, for axial and turning movement in said one direction of rotation to a second control position, and for turning movement in the opposite direction of rotation to a third control position, said manually operable means including a second threaded means in threaded engagement with said first threaded means, so that upon turning of said manually operable means to said first control position, said feed direction control means is moved to said first adjusted position b said first threaded means displaced in one axial direction, said manually operable means including a cam track concentric with the axis of rotation of said manually operable means and having a greater pitch than said first and second threaded means, said cam track cooperating with said stationary stop means so that said manually operable means must turn in said one direction of rotation and axially move in an axial direction opposite to said one axial direction to said second control position in which it is stopped by said stop means engaging said cam track whereby said first threaded means is operated by said axially moving second threaded means and manually operable means to move with the same a predetermined distance in said opposite axial direction so that said feed direction control means is placed in said second adjusted position, said manually operable means including an engaging portion; and linkage means connected with said feeding means and having an engaging portion cooperating with said engaging portion so that upon turning of said manually operable means to said third control position, said feeding means is moved to said inoperative position.

8. Feed control apparatus according to claim 7 wherein said support means include a support plate having a circular opening formed with circumferentially spaced axially extending recesses; said manually operable means including a knob having resiliently biassed pins cooperating with said recesses so that said knob is guided for axial movement and is also turnable upon resilient displacement of said pins.

9. Feed control apparatus according to claim 7 wherein said manually operable means include a knob, a tubular cam having an end face forming said cam track, and a central nut forming said second threaded means; wherein said first threaded means has an outer thread meshing with said nut, and an angular guide portion; and wherein said stationary guide means have an angular guideway for guiding said guide portion.

10. Feed control apparatus according to claim 7 and including shifting means having a normal position and being biassed to move in another position for moving said feeding means to said inoperative position; a locking and resetting member for holding said shifting means in said normal position, and for returning said shifting means from said other position to said normal position, said locking and resetting member being connected with said linkage means and operated to release said shifting means for movement to said other position when said manually operable means are turned to said third control position.

11. Feed control apparatus according to claim 7 wherein said cam track has a helical portion having twice the pitch than said first and second threaded means so that said first threaded means is moved half the distance in said one axial direction during turning of said manually operable means to said first control position with said second threaded means, as the resultant distance in the opposite axial direction during rotative and axial movement of said manually operable means to said second control position by axially moving said first and second threaded means in said opposite axial direction twice the distance as said first threaded means is retracted by the turning second threaded means.

12. Feed control apparatus according to claim 7 wherein said support includes a support plate having an opening, and a dial with indicia surrounding said opening; and wherein said manually operable means include a knob located in said opening and having an indicating mark cooperating with said indicia during turning movement of sad knob, said indicia including an indicia indicating said initial position, and indicia located on opposite sides of said first mentioned indicia and representing said first and second control positions, and said third control position, respectively.

13. Feed control apparatus according to claim 7 wherein said linkage means include a double armed lever mounted for pivotal movement, and spring means urging said lever to turn in one direction; wherein said manually operable means include an axially extending shoulder projecting from said cam track and cooperating with an end portion of said lever so that the same is angularly displaced when said axial shoulder is turned with said manually operable means to said third control position; and including shifting means for moving said feeding means between said inoperative and operative positions, and operatively connected with said lever to move said feeding means to said inoperative position when said manually operable means is turned to said third control position.

14. Feed control apparatus for a sewing machine, comprising, in combination, feeding means having an inoperative position, and an operative position for feeding a fabric forward or rearward; feed direction control means including first threaded means and being operatively connected with said feeding means and having first and second adjusted positions for setting said feeding means to feed the fabric forward and rearward, respectively, stationary guide means for non-rotatably guiding said first threaded means for axial movement; support means including a stationary stop means; manually operable means mounted on said support means for turning movement about an axis in one direction of rotation from an initial position to at least one first control position, and for axial movement from said first control position to a second control position, said manually operable means including a second threaded means in threaded engagement with said first threaded means, so that upon turning of said manually operable means to said first control position, said feed direction control means is moved to said first adjusted position by said first threaded means displaced in one axial direction, said manually operable means including a cam track concentric with the axis of rotation of said manually operable means and having a greater pitch than said first and second threaded means, said cam track cooperating with said stationary stop means so that said manually operable means must axially move in an axial direction to said second control position in which it is stopped by said stop means engaging said cam track whereby said first threaded means is operated by said axially moving second threaded means and manually operable means to move with the same a predetermined distance in said opposite axial direction so that said feed direction control means is placed in said second adjusted position.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS RICHARD J. SCANLAN, JR., Primary Examiner. 

